Flush valve



July 24, 1962 J. A. sTuARfi', JR

FLUSH VALVE Filed Aug. 31, 1959 INVENTOR James A. SZQQ/"Zii:

ATTORNEYS BY Mun/7, Liczdy, Daniels 5 Marc/Q United States Patent Cfiice amaze Patentedduly 24, 1962 3,045,249 FLUEHVALVE James A. Stuart, Jn, Danbury, Conn. (Rte. 2, Brookfield, Quinn.)

Filed Aug. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 837,234 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-56) This invention relates in general to flush tank constructions and in particular to a new and useful axial movement type flushing valve.

The invention involves a valve and associated mechanism for dumping a tank full of water for use in sanitary systems, such as lavatories. Axial movement flushing valves have been known prior to the present invention but all require complicated centering mechanisms and are not reliable in their operation. Such valve constructions also include a multiple number of springs and associated device which are provided to insure return of the valve and the operating mechanism to the closed seat position.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a flushing valve mechanism which includes an elongated cylindrical fitting which is secured to the top of the flushing tank and extends downwardly therein to provide a centering guide for a hand operated vertically reciprocable valve control rod. The arrangement includes a valve seat fitting which is secured to the tank flush drain and which provides an internal beveled valve seat for a ball float valve which is connected to the end of the control rod. When the ball float valve is seated, the upper.

handled end of the control rod extends slightly above the top of the tank. The cylindrical fitting is provided with internal washers to permit reciprocating of the control rod withwater leakage through the interior of the cylindrical members. The arrangement is such that when the control rod raised, the ball valve is lifted above its seat and the liquid in the tank is discharged through the flush drain. The ball valve is designed to float down- Wardly on the top of the liquid and seat under the down ward urging of the weight of the control rod and the force of incoming fresh water.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide an axial movement flush valve.

A further object of this invention is to provide a flush tank having a flush drain fitting connected tothe bottom thereof including an internal valve seat which is opened and closed by a ball float valve connected to the lower end of a control rod operated from above the tank and guided for vertical reciprocal movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compact flushing unit which in addition to being useable as a complete flush tank, may also be inserted, within the shell of presentlyexisting flush tanks to enhance the operation of the tank by substituting the same for the existing mechanism.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a flushing valve mechanism which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claim annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and de scribed a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a transverse section through a flush tank having a flushing valve constructed in accordance with the invention; 1

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the ball float valve and valve seat; I

FIG. 3 is a front view partly in section showing the flush tank of the present invention as a unit installed within the shell of an existing tank; and

,FIG. 4 is a partly broken section of a modified form of the flushing valve of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention as embodied therein includes a flush tank generally designated Ill including a bottom wall 12 having a flush drain opening 14. Water under pressure is directed into the tank lti through a conduit 16 which flows into the tank to completely fill the tank when a flush valve mechanism, generally designated 18, is in the closed position.

In accordance with the invention, the flush valve mechanism l8 cooperates with a cylindrical valve seat fitting generally designated Ztl, which is externally threaded and adapted to be fastened to the tank by a nut 22.

The valve seat fitting 24} is provided with an internal bevelled valve seat 24 which cooperates with a ball float valve 26 to close the flush discharge. The valve seat 24 is spaced inwardly from the interior walls of the fitting Ztl and downwardly from the bottom wall 12 of the tank 10 in order to provide a recessed area for the seating of the ball float valve 26.

The ball float valve 26 is provided with an upstanding hollow cylindrical portion 28 having vertically elongated slots 3% and 32 extending inwardly to the central bore on each side thereof. A long control rod 34 is slidably fitted within the cylindrical portion 28 and is provided with a through bolt 36 which extends outwardly into each of the slots 3t and 32.

The upper end of the controlrod 34 is guided for vertical reciprocable movement within a cylindrical guide fitting, generally designated 38, which is threaded into a cover 40. The upper end of the guide fitting 38 is held above the cover by a nut 42 and the control rod 34 extends upwardly through the center of the fitting and is capped by a knobbed handle 44. d

The guide fitting 38 is provided with two vertically spaced internal ledge areas 46 and 48 which hold durable washer seal members 5%) and 52 which hold the control rod against lateral movement and seal the working parts against water leakage.

The tank 10 is flushed by grabbing the handle 44 and raising it. Since the through-bolt 36 rides in the slots 3% and 32, the rod may move upwardly an initial distance without lifting the ball float valve 26. The valve 26 may then be lifted clear oil its seat and above the opening 14. Water in the tank will immediately flow through the opening and empty the tank while a fresh supply will flow inwardly through the inlet conduit 16. Suitable vent means (not shown) may be provided to permit rapid filling of the tank through conduit 16 after the valve mechanism is moved to a closed position.

When the handle 44 is released, the float valve rides on the top of the water and is gradually lowered as the Water recedes precisely into alignment with the valve seat 24. The lost motion connection between the control rod 34 and the ball float valve 26 permits slight swinging movement of the valve until it finds its proper seat under the urging of the outflowing water. The valve is very light and floats on its seat until the control rod moves further downwardly audits bottom end 54 contacts the bottom 56 of the interior bore of the portion 28 to force the valve to fully seat.

Referring to FIG. 3, the flush tank 1%, which is of the same construction as hereinbefore described, is inserted within the casing 50 of an existing well-known flush tank. The flushing unit of the present invention is adaptable to be substituted for present-day mechanisms within an existing flush. tank and for this purpose the handle 58 of the flushing unit is provided with an opening 53 adapted to accommodate a rod 54 attached to a wellknown valve handle 55 of the type existent in use on present-day flush tank units. The integral flushing unit is connected by any suitable means to the inlet 56 and outlet 57 found on present-day units. It will therefore be seen that, according to the present invention, the flushingunit is so constructed as to be readily substituted for present-day mechanisms to provide for the simple and eflicient flushing operations to make the advantages available for old as well as new structures.

In FIG. 4 a modified form of the flush valve mechanism of the present invention is shown, in which the handle 44 carries a rod 60. The rod is located within a sleeve 61. Intermediate the rod and sleeve throughout most of its length is sealing material 62. In this construction the lost motion connection between the rod 61) and the float valve 63 is also provided. In the operation of the flushing valve mechanism in this modified form, it will be noted that the base of the sleeve 61 will act as a stop preventing further upward movement of the float valve 63 when the top of the hollow cylindrical portion 64 engages the same. In addition, the construction of this modified form permits the handle 44 and rod 60 to return the float valve to closed position without the necessity for positive assisting means.

Thus the inventionprovides a flush tank construction including a flushing valve mechanism made of three easily installed sub-assemblies; namely, a valve seat sleeve member which is threaded onto the bottom drain opening of the tank, a control rod and float valve assembly which extends upwardly inside the tank, and includes a handle located above the tank, and a control rod guiding and sealing cylinder which is connected to the top of the tank and includes'a portion extending downwardly into the tank for a substantial distance to form a guide for the control rod as it is reciprocated either downwardly to move the float valve into contact with the valve seat to close off the flushing drain or upwardly to lift the fioatvalve off the valve seat and effect complete drainage of the liquid from the tank. These sub-assemblies may be easily and quickly installed and require minimum maintenance care. Both the construction and the installation of the parts are inexpensive.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principle, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

I claim:

A flushing device comprising a tank having a top wall, a bottom wall having a drain opening, means to direct liquid under pressure into said tank, a valve seat sleeve member having an internal valve seat detachably connected to said tank at said drain opening, a hollow sealing and guiding member connected to and depending from said top wall, a control rod vertically reciprocable slidable in said sealing and guiding member, said sealing and guiding member extending downwardly from said top a substantial distance and formed with a plurality of spaced-apart centering guides to prevent lateral swinging of said control rod, said sealing and guiding member being substantially cylindrical and including an upper portion which extends through and is detachably connected to said top, and a downwardly depending portion having at least two vertically spaced portions in bearing and sealing contact with said control rod, and a ball float valve connected to the lower end of said control rod and engageable with said valve seat to close said drain and being movable off said seat to open said valve and drain said tank upon upward movement of said control rod.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 449,242 Beekman et a1 Mar. 31, 1891 1,606,926 Delany Nov. 16, 1926 2,502,262 Labiche Mar. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,651 Great Britain 1905 OTHER REFERENCES Meyer: German application 1,017,096, printed Oct. 3, 1957 (K1 h 12/03). 

